The Botanical Magazine Volume Ii Part 4

LILIO-NARCISSUS jacobaeus, flore sanguineo nutante, _Dillen. elth. 195.

t. 162. f. 196._

The Indian Daffodil with a red flower. _Park. Par. 71. f. 3._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 47]

A native of South-America: according to LINNaeUS, first known in Europe in 1593, figured by PARKINSON in 1629, and placed by him among the Daffodils; stoves and green-houses were then unknown, no wonder therefore it did not thrive long.

"Is now become pretty common in the curious gardens in England, and known by the name of Jacobaea Lily; the roots send forth plenty of offsets, especially when they are kept in a moderate warmth in winter; for the roots of this kind will live in a good green-house, or may be preserved through the winter under a common hot-bed frame; but then they will not flower so often, nor send out so many offsets as when they are placed in a moderate stove in winter. This sort will produce its flowers two or three times in a year, and is not regular to any season; but from March to the beginning of September, the flowers will be produced, when the roots are in vigour.

"It is propagated by offsets, which may be taken off every year; the best time to s.h.i.+ft and part these roots is in August, that they may take good root before winter; in doing of this, there should be care taken not to break off the fibres from their roots. They should be planted in pots of a middling size, filled with light kitchen-garden earth; and, if they are kept in a moderate degree of warmth, they will produce their flowers in plenty, and the roots will make great increase." _Miller's Gard. Dict._

[48]

~Narcissus triandrus. Reflexed Daffodil.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Hexandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Petala_ s.e.x, aequalia. _Nectario_ infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo, _Stamina_ intra nectarium.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

NARCISSUS _triandrus_ spatha sub-biflora, floribus cernuis, petalis reflexis, staminibus tribus longioribus.

NARCISSUS _triandrus_ spatha sub-uniflora, nectario campanulato crenato dimidio petalis breviore, staminibus ternis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 317._

NARCISSUS juncifolius, albo flore reflexo. _Clus. app. alt._

The yellow turning Junquilia, or Rush Daffodil. _Parkins. Parad. 93.

fig. 2, 3._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 48]

The present species of _Narcissus_ is considered by the Nursery-men near London as the _triandrus_ of LINNaeUS, which it no doubt is, though it does not accord in every particular with his description: his _triandrus_ is white, ours is pale yellow, but colour is not in the least to be depended on, for it is found to vary in this as in all the other species; his _triandrus_ he describes as having in general only three stamina, whence the name he has given it; ours, so far as we have observed, has constantly six, three of which reach no further than the mouth of the tube, a circ.u.mstance so unusual, that LINNaeUS might overlook it without any great impeachment of his discernment; he says, indeed, that it has sometimes six: perhaps, the three lowermost ones may, in some instances, be elongated so as to equal the others; if he had observed the great inequality of their length, he would certainly have mentioned it.

This species is found wild on the Pyrenean mountains; was an inhabitant of our gardens in the time of PARKINSON (who has very accurately described it, noticing even its three stamina) to which, however, it has been a stranger for many years: it has lately been re-introduced, but is as yet very scarce. Our figure was taken from a specimen which flowered in Mr. LEE's Nursery at Hammersmith.

It grows with as much readiness as any of the others of the genus, and flowers in March and April.

[49]

~Soldanella alpina. Alpine Soldanella.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Pentandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Corolla_ campanulata, lacero-multifida. _Caps._ 1-locularis, apice multidentata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

SOLDANELLA _alpina._ _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 194._

SOLDANELLA alpina rotundifolia. _Bauh. Pin. 295._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 49]

Of this genus there is at present only one known species, the _alpina_ here figured, which is a native of Germany, and, as its name imports, an alpine plant.

Its blossoms are bell-shaped, of a delicate blue colour, sometimes white, and strikingly fringed on the edge.

It flowers usually in March, in the open ground; requires, as most alpine plants do, shade and moisture in the summer, and the shelter of a frame, in lieu of its more natural covering snow, in the winter; hence it is found to succeed best in a northern aspect: will thrive in an open border, but is more commonly kept in pots.

May be increased by parting its roots early in autumn.

[50]

~Iris sibirica. Siberian Iris.~

_Cla.s.s and Order._

~Triandria Monogynia.~

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-petala, inaequalis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus.

_Stigmata_ petaliformia, cucullato-bil.a.b.i.ata. _Thunb. Diss. de Iride._

_Specific Character and Synonyms._